The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Frankfort, Ky. May,
1920, Vol. 18, No. 53. "Famous Steamboats and Their Captains on Western and
Southern Waters.  (Conclusion) by Ella Hutchison Ellwanger. pp. 33-36.
Franklin County.

Captain Harry Innes Todd of the "Blue Wing," No. 1.  When Captain John W.
Russell commanded the "Empress" and made his famous trips to New Orleans
and other southern points, the way to an officership on a steamer was as
much via physical strength and moral courage as of mental alertness.  
Those were the days when river pirates, common thieves and even landsmen
"unionized" against all law and order and terrorized the public.  So when
it came to the appointment of mate and engineer and pilot and clerk and so
on down to the very roustabouts, Captain Russell saw to it that his crew
possessed as much brawn as brain.  It really took both, sometimes, to land
passengers and cargo safely.
    So it was under the tutelage of Captain Russell, the foremost picturesque
figure of early steamboating, that young Harry I. Todd first began his
river career.  It is family history that young Todd adored his commander;
that he sought to emulate his courage without vanity and to have a giant's
strength and refrain from using it as a giant.  He began as clerk on the
"Empress" and stayed with Captain Russell until that beautiful boat burned
at the wharf in Louisville.  After a varied career on the Mississippi and
Ohio rivers he returned to Frankfort and built for the Kentucky and Ohio
river trade the first "Blue Wing."  This boat he fitted out as handsomely
as were the larger steamers on southern waters.  The linens and the silver,
the cabin furnishings and the piano were the best procurable.  This was
really the first comfortably fitted out little steamer that ever ascended
the Kentucky.  The glory of its history still remains with the old river
men and many boats after her were named in her honor.
    For a time he commanded the "Oliver Anderson" and the "Bob Letcher."  At
this time in Kentucky history dueling was not allowed on her soil.  And as
there were as many hot-headed gentlemen in Kentucky as elsewhere, there was
nothing to do save make for the Indiana shore and revenge.  The old "Bob
Letcher," with her romantic young captain in command, was then the chosen
vehicle for all the dueling parties who thirsted for gore.  The last
duelist that went aboard the "Letcher" was the late B. B. Sayre, of
Frankfort, Kentucky.  "The banks along the river and the old wooden bridge
were lined with half the citizens of Frankfort," writes an old historian,
"for the prominence of the noted educator and the seconds," were known to
all.  The time came to leave and the "Letcher" whistled its warning to the
dallying duelist that it was time to get aboard - but none came.  Just how
Professor Sayre nursed his wrath or the name of his opponent has slipped my
memory."
    When the "Blue Wing" first ascended the Kentucky river the natives along
the river banks and on the low farm land on either side were thrown into
ecstasies of delight when she passed.  They would swarm at the various
landings and bring the popular captain venison, lamb, ducks and hams
galore.  Of course, they would roam over the "Blue Wing's" spotless decks
and look with awe at the plate-glass mirrors and the soft velvet carpets
and hangings of the main cabin.
    Captain Todd often related that he carried as many friends as the boat
could hold to help partake of the lamb and the wild game that abounded then
in Kentucky.  All such trips were turned into a veritable picnic - as the
natives insisted on presenting these things to the captain of the "Blue
Wing," and their feelings would be hurt if even offer of payment be made.
    A prominent eastern gentleman was stopping in Frankfort and he had been
wined and dined to his heart's content.  Yet, he said, he had one wish
ungranted.  It was to be allowed to make the trip up the beautiful Kentucky
and partake of a saddle of venison, which he had heard that Charlie
Buckner, the steward, could prepare as no one else could.  The farmers
along the route brought their usual gifts to the popular young captain. 
There were lamb, shoat, wild ducks, and everything that the forest and
stream could contribute to the table of the far-famed "Blue Wing," but, as
luck would have it, not one bit of venison appeared.  The easterner had
duly admired the scenery, even a bit shocked at the manners of the natives,
and now was ready to taste the saddle of venison.  Charlie Buckner felt his
reputation was at stake.  He had many whispered consultations with his
captain - who secretly enjoyed his steward's discomfiture.
    At length it was decided that Charlie might dress a saddle of mutton
camoulaged as venison.  The New Yorker ate heartily and declared the boat's
chef a wizard.
    After dinner, over the coffee and cigars, Captain Todd gave Charlie's
secret away.  The guest was a bit chagrined at being so taken in, as was
Captain Todd's step-brother, who lost his dinner, because he could not eat
mutton.
    Captain Todd quite steamboating for good in 1849 and engaged in various
financial enterprises that brought him both fame and wealth.
    He was married in 1839 to Miss Jane Davidson and at his death his wife
and ten children mourned his loss.  He was about seventy-three years old,
having been born in Frankfort, Kentucky, September the 6th, 1818.  His
father was Hon. John H. Todd, a prominent man of his day.  His mother was
the daughter of Hon. Harry Innes, who was one of the first settlers of
Franklin county, and the first Judge of the United States Court for the
District of Kentucky.  After the death of Captain Todd's father, his mother
married the late John J. Crittenden, who was Governor of this State and for
several terms U. S.  Senator from Kentucky.
    Besides the steamboat business, Captain Todd, in partnership with his
step-brother, Robert Crittenden, went into the coal business in Frankfort,
and operated a coal mine in Beattyville.  In 1859 he was elected sheriff of
Franklin county and served one term.  In 1863 he was elected by the
Legislature lessee of the Kentucky penitentiary, which position he
continued to fill until 1871.  He afterwards served a short term as warden
by appointment of the Governor.  In August, 1871, he was elected
Representative of Franklin County in the lower house of the General
Assembly without opposition.  He served many years as a member of the city
council of Frankfort.  He was extremely conscientious and performed all
these duties, faithfully, with the best interests of his State and his home
city at heart.  From his obituary we quote the following testimonial to his
loyalty and his public-spirit.
    "In the death of Captain Harry I. Todd Frankfort loses one of its oldest
and worthiest citizens, though none ever thought of him as an old man. 
Only a few weeks before his death, responding to the greeting of a friend,
the deceased gentleman referred to himself as 'an old man.' 'No, Captain,'
said another present, 'you are not an old man:  you have merely been here
for a long time.'  His robust figure, his strong, springing step, and,
above all, his mental faculties marked him as one apt to pass far beyond
the limit usually allowed to man.  But in a moment he was cut down, and the
strong man, so long a prominent figure in the every day life of Frankfort,
now sleeps with his honored and well-loved dead.  His was a strong
character set in a sturdy frame, and none ever felt the warm grasp of his
hand or looked into his clear eye without feeling that this was indeed an
honest man.  He was positive in all things, manly, just and upright. 'You
always knew where to find him,' was the plain, heartfelt eulogy passed upon
him by one who had known him long and well.  And it was true.  His great
heart beat warmly in sympathy with those whom he had taken by the hand and
made welcome as his friends. . . To his enemies - and so strong a character
must have had enemies - he gave forth no uncertain sound.  They, too,
always knew where to find him, but they dreaded no unmanly blow from their
antagonist.  His life was an open book, for friend and foe alike to read,
and in all its pages there was no record of an unworthy deed.
    "As a public official he was careful, painstaking and scrupulously exact,
and in this he exemplified the daily history of his private life throughout
a long and busy career.  An unyielding supporter of the cause of the Union
in the late war, he yet numbered among his intimates many who served in the
opposing armies.
    ... Firmly fixed in his own political views, he readily granted to others
the right to as earnestly hold contrary opinions.  He was an encyclopedia
of Kentucky political history for the past fifty years ... Devoted to his
friends as he was, he could be no less than passionately fond of his own
family, and was a most loving husband and father."
    The children of Captain Harry Innes Todd and Jane Ballinger Todd are:
    James Davidson, deceased, Harriet Davidson, Anne Innes, deceased, Captain
John Harris, deceased, Rear Admiral Chapman Coleman, Harry Innes, deceased,
Julia Robertson and Maria Crittenden, twins, latter deceased, Maria
Crittenden, II, George Davidson, Jennie Logan, Mary Hannah, Bessie Watson,
Kitty Thomas, Robert Crittenden.
    The children of Mr. George D. Todd are:  Laura Durkee Todd, Helen Bridge
Todd, George Todd, Jr.
    The children of John Harris Todd are:  Bonnie Broadhead Todd, Anne Innes
Todd, Margaret Bates Todd.
    The children of Chapman C. Todd are:  Andrew James Todd, deceased, Harry
Innes, deceased, Chapman C. Todd, Lieut. Commander in navy.
    The children of Mary Hannah Todd Watson are:  Jane Todd Watson Conger,
James Saffell Watson, Harry Todd Watson, deceased.
    The children of Kitty Todd Holmes are:  Jane Todd Holmes Samuels, John
Todd Holmes.
    The children of Robert Crittenden Todd are:  Virginia Cotton Todd, Fannie
Cotton Todd, Harry Innes Todd, James Davidson Todd, Logan Caldwell Todd.
    The great-grandchildren of Harry Innes Todd and Jane Ballinger Todd are: 
Andrew James, son of Innes Todd, Mary Watson Conger, Lathan Hubbard Conger,
Jr., children of Jane Todd Watson.
    The children of Jane Todd Holmes Samuels are:  Theodore O'Hara Samuels,
Kitty Holmes Samuels.
    The child of John Todd Holmes and Kathleen Ramey Holmes is Kathleen Ramey
Holmes.
    The child of Chapman C. Todd, Jr., is Ellen Johnson Todd.
    "I distinctly remember when the soldiers from Frankfort and vicinity went
to Mexico that they went in my father's boat.  Capt Ben Milam commanded
them, and among the ones that I can recall who went in his company were: 
Mr. John Swigert, William Whitehead, Humphrey Evans, Griffith Theobald,
Uncle Robert Crittenden and Uncle George Davidson.
    "Many of the friends and relatives of the company went to the old wharf
to see them off.  After that many went to the house of Mr. Phillip Swigert,
which was being built at that time, and mounted ladders to the roof that
they might see "the boat go round the bend' behind Mr. Brown's and Dr.
Charles Phythian's homes.  The national and State flags were flying and the
band was playing 'The Girl I left Behind Me.'  I was among those present
and can visualize the scenes as if they were but yesterday.  I am only
sorry I cannot remember the names of all the brave Franklin county men who
left that day."

Todd Russell Sayre Buckner Davidson Innes Crittenden Watson Conger Holmes
Samuel Ramey Milam Swigert Whitehead Evans Theobald Brown Phythian
=
LA Louisville-Jefferson-KY Frankfort-Franklin-KY IN NY Mexico

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/franklin/todd.hi.txt